IOWA
HISTORY PROJECT

Occupies the extreme northeast portion of the State,
being bounded on the north by Minnesota, and east by the
Mississippi River. The entire surface of the county is
more or less rolling, thus giving a pleasing variety to
the landscape and good surface drainage to the soil.
Though lying directly on the Mississippi River, the land
lies high, rising almost perpendicularly about 400 feet
from the shore, then gradually rising back, till at
Waukon, near the centre of the county, it is 655 feet
above the river level.
All the streams run in narrow valleys, hemmed in by
abrupt bluffs, in altitude equal to the general level of
the adjacent farming lands. They are very clear and pure,
being formed entirely of springs, and abound with
speckled trout. This prince of fish, which is not found
south of this county, affords another proof of the
sweetness and purity of Allamakee County waters. They are
all rapid streams. Upper Iowa and Yellow Rivers, Hickory,
Williams, Paint, Village, Coon, French, Silver,
Patterson, Bear and Waterloo Creeks, afford immense
numbers of very constant water powers, mostly unimproved.
The soil of the county is much varied. About one-third
its area is prairie, hazel thickets and river bottom,
consisting of a black loam from 20 to 40 inches in depth,
light in texture, easily tilled, never wet, and of
wonderful fertility. About one-sixth its area is burr oak
openings, scarcely inferior to the prairie in richness.
One-half its area is white oak and hickory openings, in
which the soil is less in depth, lighter in color,
heavier in texture, and producing somewhat less growth of
corn and straw, but a finer quality of wheat than the
prairie. Its chief deficiency seems to be in vegetable
mould, consequently it responds well to the use of
fertilizers, and under liberal treatment makes durable
and valuable farms.
The manufactures in this county are few and unimportant.
There are plenty of saw and grist mills, and a few small
plow and wagon shops; but the great want of this county
is extensive establishments for the manufacture of
agricultural implements, such as reapers, mowers,
threshers, plows, drags, fanning mills, drills, &c.,
&c., for which abundant water power and great tracts
of convenient and suitable timber afford wonderful
facilities. Choice water powers can be got for a song,
and heavy timber, suitable for manufacturing purposes,
convenient thereto, can be bought at 5 to 10 dollars per
acre, and a market at the manufactory for all
manufactures. The great increase of sheep husbandry will
soon demand that our crystal streams shall no longer
babble lazily over their pebbly beds in useless beauty,
but that they shall be harnessed to the spindle and loom,
and thus be made to yield a music no less pleasant than
the unfettered stream, and a music that shall tell of our
wives and daughters released from the drudgery of the
spinning wheel and shuttle, and ourselves from the
monopoly of railroads and steamboats, and speculators in
wool.
Allamakee county, lying as it does on the Mississippi
river, has a market there for all her surplus products,
without the laborious cartage of inland counties; and
more, she has direct access to the great pineries of
Minnesota and Wisconsin, for lumber for fencing and
building purposes.
This county has the usual school facilities of the State,
and in addition the Allamakee College and Academy, at
Waukon, the centre of the county, which gives such as
choose a fine opportunity for the acquirement of a more
thorough education than can be obtained in the common
schools.
The climate is particularly inviting to immigrants from
the north-eastern States and the British Provinces. The
great elevation and rolling surface of our prairies
render them free from those miasmatic vapors so prevalent
in some western localities, consequently fever and ague
is as much unknown on the high prairies here as it is in
New Hampshire or Massachusetts; and furthermore, the dry,
bracing air, peculiar to these localities, proves a
sovereign preventive and sometimes cure of consumption,
that scourge of New England. In fact, consumption is
almost as uncommon here as yellow fever in New England.
Our soil is such as would gladden the heart of an eastern
farmer. Corn grows on the same ground for a lifetime
without manure, and without any perceptible decrease of
crops. For wheat this is one of the best counties in the
West. Potatoes, melons, cabbages and other

Page 90

garden "truck," are grown with
astonishing ease; currants, gooseberries, strawberries, grapes and
raspberries, flourish in the highest perfection. Plums of fair quality
grow wild in unstinted abundance, and the apples of Iowa challenge the
world. That the soil of Iowa is eminently adapted to the growth of fruits,
no one will deny who is at all acquainted with the facts. In regard to the
fruit growing qualities of the soil in this county we will give the
opinion of a gentleman residing at Waukon, who has spent the best years of
his life in fruit growing in a new country. He says: "I have an orchard of
1400 trees just coming into bearing, and a nursery of about 75,000 apple
trees, in which I have acquired some very dear bought experience, and I
have come to this conclusion: In growing apples, grapes and small fruits,
Northern Iowa can compete with the other States most successfully, for we
have never in twelve years had a spring frost to injure blossoms. We get
hardly apples, and invite competition. The following are eminently
successful and hardy: Red Astrachan, Red June,
Tetofsky, Sweet June, Oldenburg, Alexander, Holden,
Pippin, St. Lawrence, Baily Sweet, Jonathan, Fameuse,
Winesap, English Golden Russet, Tahman Sweet, N. Spy,
Rawles Jeanette. WAUKON, the seat of justice for
Allamakee County, is situated on a fine rolling prairie,
18 miles southwest from Lansing, and 28 northwest from
McGregor on the Mississippi River, in the midst of one of
the finest farming districts in the West. Seven unfailing
springs welling up through the green turf of the prairie,
first brought the emigrant to this spot. These springs
still supply the village with water of crystal clearness,
and in unstinted abundance; a boon of which the
inhabitants are justly proud, and for which they are duly
thankful.
The first settlement was made in the fall of 1849 by G.
C. Shattuck, who occupied the land now covered by the
village. In the spring of 1853 the county seat of
Allamakee County was located here by State Commissioners,
on account of its central position, handsome site,
abundant water, convenient timber, and easy
accessibility. The decision of the Commissioners was at
once ratified by the people. Since then the place has
increased with a healthy growth till now it contains
about 900 inhabitants, 10 stores, 5 churches, a fine
Court House, College, etc., etc.
The streets are straight, and a large number of shade
trees have been planted; the houses are mostly painted
white, and with generous gardens, are enclosed by neat
fences that give the whole place a snug and homelike
appearance. The first settler was G. C. Shattuck, who
came in the fall of 1849; D. W. Adams, and L. T.
Woodcock, came in 1853 and built and opened a store; C.
J. T. Newel commenced blacksmithing, and A. J. Hersey, a
store about the same time; W. R. Pottle, L. O. Hatch, and
J. Israel, came a few months after. All these eight first
settlers are now living and all living here, including
the old pioneer Shattuck.
The chief manufactures are a steam saw-mill, grist mill,
agricultural implement manufactory, with blacksmiths,
harness makers, shoe makers, etc., etc., to supply the
demand of an extensive farming country. The churches are
Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic and Dutch
Reformed.
Allamakee College, located here, is a fine brick
structure, 50 by 70 feet, 3 stories high, under the
charge of Professor Stone, and has at present about 200
students. This institution furnishes abundant educational
facilities for the youth, and attracts a very superior
class of settlers to both town and surrounding country.
Few western towns are so highly favored in this respect
as Waukon. Trade is good and grows with the growth of the
country and development of its resources. This location
is eminently healthy; its great altitude, pure water and
freedom from marshes, exempts the citizens from ague, and
purity of the atmosphere is highly favorable to
consumptives. The writer of this article, (of a
consumptive family,) left Massachusetts twelve years ago,
very much debilitated with a cough of three years
standing, and now - owing to prairie air and out-door
habits - is enjoying robust health.
Altogether, Waukon claims a high place among villages for
its beauty of location and taste in improvement, health,
educational and religious privileges and general
intelligence and morality of the people. It is a most
desirable place for a residence for such as do not crave
the noise and confusion of the metropolis.

Page
91

LANSING is situated on the Mississippi
River, one hundred miles north of DuBuque, and ten miles
south of the State Line of Minnesota, at the mouth of a
ravine about three-fourths of a mile wide. The river here
has a bold shore, making a good landing for the largest
class of boats. The first settlement was made in the
winter and spring of 1852. Among the early settlers were
John Haney, jr., W. Ballou, James I Gilbert, F. D.
Cowles, J. W. Remine, G. W. Gray, G. W. Hays, A. L.
Battles, I. B. Place, H. M. Travis and J. I. Taylor. The
first male child born was Frank Cowles; the first who
died was Fanny Haney. The first lawyer in the place was
J. W. Remine; the first physician, J. I Taylor; and the
first newspaper published was the Lansing Intelligencer,
by W. H. Summer, commenced in the fall of 1852. Soon
after the first settlement, bands of roving Indians
infested the streets, making night hideous with their war
songs and dances, and for several years they made annual
pilgrimages to a burial ground situated near the town,
where many of their deceased braves had been deposited
years before. Here, for many nights in succession, they
would form a circle around the dead and wildly chant
their requiems.
The population of the town increased rapidly, business
houses began to multiply, and all classes of mechanics
sought this as a desirable place to locate. In 1862 a
great portion of the business part of William street was
consumed by fire, but was soon rebuilt - brick and stone
taking the place of wood.
The town contains two establishments for the manufacture
of lumber, sash, doors and blinds, etc.; one grain cradle
factory, and plow and broom factories, and one flour
mill; also one National bank; ten general, two dry goods,
two drug, two jewelry, three hardware, and four clothing
stores. There are seven church organizations,
Congregational, Episcopal, German Methodist, Lutheran,
Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic.
There is also a fine graded school occupying a large and
commodious stone edifice, and three halls. Masonic Hall
occupied by Evergreen Lodge, No. 144; stated
communications, Thursdays, on or after the full moon.
Good Templar's Hall, occupied by Lansing Lodge, No. 196;
meetings on every Friday evening. German Hall, occupied
by the Gesang Verein; meetings on Tuesday evenings. Two
weekly papers are published; the Weekly Union, by G. W.
Haislet, and the North Iowa Journal, by J. G. Armstrong.
Five hundred thousand bushels of grain were shipped from
this point during last year. The supply of fruit is as
yet small, but the farmers are now taking a deep interest
in this branch, and from the great number of fine young
orchards throughout the county, it is probable that fruit
can be had in a short time in great abundance. Quarries
containing different kinds of stone, from the soft sand
stone to the hard granite are numerous, and supply an
abundance of building material. Mount Hosmer, directly
north of the town, rises 420 feet above the level of the
Mississippi River. The view from its summit is not
surpassed in beauty if equaled by any part of the
Mississippi valley. Population, 2,000.POSTVILLE is in the southwestern corner
of the county, on the McGregor Western Railway, 25 miles
from McGregor. It contains three churches, Baptist,
Methodist and Presbyterian; also three general stores and
one drug store. Population, 200.VILLAGE CREEK is in the eastern part of
the county, on the Mississippi River. It has one
Methodist Church, one general store, two flour mills, and
one woolen manufactory. The township is well supplied
with timber, and is well watered. Population, 180;
township, 504.[may be 904]HARPER'S FERRY is in the southeastern
part of the county, on the Mississippi River. It has one
flour mill and three general stores. The township is
composed of good rich farming land, and is well settled.
About fifty thousand dollars worth of produce is shipped
from here annually. Population, 150; township 500.ALLAMAKEE is in Fairview township, in
the southeastern part of the county, and on the
Mississippi River, eight miles above McGregor. It is an
excellent steamboat landing, but is used chiefly as a
wood point. The soil is good, especially adapted to
wheat. There is a good water power here and plenty of
timber. The place contains two churches, Methodist and
Roman Catholic, and one stave factory, one barrel
factory, one flour mill and one general store.
Population, 100.
ION is in the southeastern portion of the
county, seven miles from the Mississippi River. It
contains two churches, Baptist and

Page
92

Methodist, and one
general store. The Yellow River at this point affords
good manufacturing facilities, which are as yet
unemployed. Pop., 100.WATERVILLE is in Paint Creek township,
18 miles from McGregor. It has a Lutheran Church, two
flour mills and one general store. Population of
township, 800.FANDON is a post office in Jefferson
township, 24 miles northwest of McGregor, on the stage
route to Waukon. Population of township, 1,442.
The remaining post offices and villages are Capoli, Clear
Creek, Cleveland, Dorchester, Elon, French Creek,
Lybrand, Lycurgus, Makee, New Galena, Nezeka, Rossville,
Union Prairie, Volney and Wilson's Ford.